Many believe that administrators don’t begin thinking about the upcoming school year until just a few days before it starts. You will be surprised to know that the first-day jitters hit administrators months before. They hit in May, to be exact.
At Classical Charter Schools, in May, school administrators come together to reflect on the closing school year, celebrating the moments that went well and strategizing about the losses. They know that in just a few months, they will have the opportunity to do it all over again. May is also the perfect time to start vision-setting for the coming year. Think of it like a ‘New Year’s Resolution’. What will you keep, and what will you toss? Vision-setting also involves looking within. We have to ask ourselves: what values do you want to highlight in the coming year and what do you feel needs to stand out? Your vision does not have to be set in stone but having the broad strokes of what you would like it to be will help you filter and prioritize the long list of tasks you will need to complete before your ‘school kick-off.’
In June and July, the academic school year is coming to a close, and we are in full swing with our Summer Learning Academy. Although there is a determined task list for school directors to complete, the first thing to get right during the summer is school setup. School setup does not just mean ensuring you have your rooms assigned for your operations team. It means everything—from making sure your school is clean to having appropriately sized chairs and desks for your scholars. Do you have all the books scholars will read and the materials they need? We can’t stress enough how important getting the foundation right is for a successful school year. You cannot teach guided reading without a guided reading table, and you cannot expect scholars to read independently if they do not have the appropriate leveled books for their grade band in their classroom library.
August comes rolling around way faster than you anticipated, and this is the month you’ll start setting the logistical foundation for your school. From finalizing your schedule to building all the logistical checkpoints your team will need. Nailing down logistics ensures that the team can meet all deliverables and serve scholars in the best way possible.
In October, you start focusing on the choreography of the school. These are the heavy-lifting months for the Deans, as they work to perfect whole-school procedures and double down on behavioral expectations—because the honeymoon phase is now over. Teachers’ commitment to immaculate transitions becomes an expectation: silent, tight, organized, and professional. If you get these things right, you’ll be able to begin building academic expectations in November and December before you hit the ground running with tutoring season during the winter and spring months. In November, you begin setting expectations for data tracking and strong data analysis with each grade team.
By laying this groundwork, you’re not just planning logistics; you’re setting the stage for scholars and staff to thrive. Remember: the work you do now will pay dividends when the challenges of the year inevitably come.
